Gender Affirmation Fund

We recognise that transgender, non-binary and gender-neutral individuals face additional mental health pressures that are directly related to their gender identity.

Many of these additional stresses are directly caused by the potential misalignment between how an individual presents in terms of clothing and appearance, and their own identity. This stress can have a direct impact upon an individual’s ability to work, study and engage in their academic commitments. A significant barrier causing this misalignment is the cost of having to purchase additional items to reduce gender dysphoria.

As part of our commitment to supporting students with their mental health, the University of Kent has created the Gender Affirmation Fund. This fund is available to students who identify as transgender, non-binary or gender neutral and can be used to help support students with the costs of gender affirming items such as binders, clothing, packers, makeup, hair extensions, pouches, Stand To Pee devices, gendered religious headwear or clothing and minor cosmetic procedures such as ear piercing or for managing body hair.

The fund is available to any student who identifies as transgender, non-binary or gender neutral and can be accessed once in their academic career. The only eligibility criteria is that you must be a registered student enrolled on any University of Kent academic programme.

We do request that you carefully research the health considerations, particularly in regards to binding and tucking and follow health and safety advice.

Please note that the fund is intended for physical items or minor cosmetic procedures (such as ear piercings or hair cuts). We cannot fund medical procedures, therapy costs, hormone costs or contribute to savings funds for surgical procedures.

The maximum amount that can be applied for is £100.  

Privacy Notice

Applications are emailed directly to the Financial Hardship mailbox, which can only be accessed by that team based in Student Support and Wellbeing. Once approved, your personal details are then transferred to an F2 (banking) form and sent to our Finance Department for processing alongside all other student payments.

All applications are treated in the strictest confidence and funds are released directly to your bank account. 

You will receive a confirmation email when your application has been processed letting you know the outcome. The email will have the subject header 'Fund Application'.

You must have a UK bank account as we cannot transfer to an international bank account.

We may be in contact to ask for your feedback on the impact of the fund. You can opt out of this by ticking the relevant box on the form.

All applications are analysed on an annual basis to track trends such as age, ethnicity etc. Data in anonymised and combined to allow for overall percentages to help create a picture of how and where the GA fund is being used, and where any gaps are than need to be addressed.

Once this annual analysis has been completed, the majority of your personal data is deleted, leaving only your Student ID number which is checked against new applications (as you can only be awarded money from the fund once in your academic career at Kent). 

Note that applications take up to 2 weeks to be processed and 2 weeks for the money to arrive in your bank account. 
If you have any queries, email financialhardship@kent.ac.uk  

We have the following additional support in place for students who identify as transgender, gender neutral or non-binary.

• Trans Student Policy and Procedure: to assist students balancing transitioning with their academic studies
• Canterbury Trans Network: a confidential peer support group run on campus twice a month during term time.
• LGBTQ+ Student Society: a social and support group for students run by Kent Students' Union
• LGBTQ+ Student Network: a campaigning and advocacy group for students run by Kent Students' Union

The University takes incidents of discrimination, bullying and harassment extremely seriously. If you have been subjected to this, we would encourage you to report and get support via the Report and Support tool.